A review of my goals: part 4

Finally, we come to the last goal: learn to sew.

There's a good reason why I wrote about this goal last. Erm, I just sewed this morning! 'Santa' brought me a sewing machine last year. I wasted no time in buying notions. I went to the fabric store with my mom in May or April to buy patterns and fabric. I laid out the fabric and cut out a skirt. And...that's where it stopped. I was too afraid of messing up. I didn't want to try, fail, and get discouraged. So I just never did anything.

Now, anyone who knows me will know that I love Christmas. It's almost an unhealthy obsession. And who can have Christmas without Christmas stockings? So I decided to make some for me and my boyfriend, as well as my penpal and secret santa. Again, I went with my mom to the fabric store for fabric. I made a pattern, laid out the fabric, and cut it. And...that's where it stopped.

Honestly? I didn't know how to thread my sewing machine. But last night I sat down, read the entire manual cover to cover, and didn't leave my office until I figured it out. Success! I threaded the sewing machine. Phew. But that's just one small step. I practiced some stitching. The top part looked good, but the thread on the backside was loopy. I was definitely having some tension problems. After two hours of google, reading the manual, videos on youtube, and a call to my mom, I got it all sorted it. I could finally begin!

The first one came out with a deformed foot. Ever heard of Chinese foot binding? This stocking would look good on them. The second came out much better, though I still had an issue with bunching near the toes. I'm not sure what the root of the problem is: pattern, not holding the fabric taut enough, my method of turning things inside out. Oh well. I'm proud of my accomplishment. It's not much, but gosh darn it, it's my first sewing project done all by myself!

The green one is strategically covering up the not-so-good-looking red one's toes.
Also, they are both stuffed with candy already!!

Tomorrow I'm going to finish the stockings for me and my boyfriend. As an aside, who knew that glitter glue takes so long to dry?? I hope it hurries up so I can send out these stockings!

Overall grade: I feel like this is like the slacker student who didn't go to class all semester, but pulls a paper out of their butt that's just the right length five minutes before it's due. Passable, but deplorable. C-